The family of Saints legend Willie Coburn have supported a new Football Memories project at McDiarmid Park.

Mrs Jean Coburn, wife of the late Willie Coburn, paid a visit to this week’s session of the Football Memories Project, run by Saints in the Community to share the collection of scrap books that Willie’s family put together.

Jean and Willie’s daughter Lorraine explained: “The idea for the scrap books came about when Dad was going to turn 60 and our family were stumped for a gift. I was looking through photos with mum and we came across the old scrap books.

“They were in raggy paper albums that were tucked at the back of a wardrobe. Mum had started them when dad’s football career took off and between them they gathered information relating to dad over the years.

“So I suggested I took them, without him knowing, and create albums he could treasure for years to come without them falling to bits every time they were opened.

“It was an amazing experience to go through the books along with my brothers Ian and Garry and see how great dad had been in his day. He never really made a big thing of his football career.

“On his birthday he was completely blown away and in his words was “fair chuffed” with them. He was incredibly proud of them. The albums were passed around to pretty much anyone who asked for them, much to my horror! I kept telling him they were precious and irreplaceable but he just wanted to share them.

“That kind of sums Dad up. If he had £10 and your need was greater you’d get it. Word of mouth ensured they were seen by many and when he won his Hall of Fame Award they increased in popularity.

“At his funeral we took a few of them for people to look at and they were very popular. I fell heir to the albums and am hugely proud of them and what they represent.

“I know he would be incredibly proud to know the albums were being used to support the Football Memories Group. If it helps to trigger memories and allow people opportunities to recollect thoughts and memories from their past, we as a family would be delighted.”

Dave Black, project manager with the Saints Community Trust said: “We are very grateful to Lorraine and all the family for sharing their fantastic scrap books with our Football Memories group.

“The books are too precious to use on a weekly basis but we have taken a whole series of images from the books that we will keep as resources for our sessions.

“The pictures are very poignant as we have sadly recently lost several members of the Willie Ormond squad that are so fondly remembered by Saints fans of a certain vintage.

“Football Memories is an award winning project that aims to help people of all ages who would benefit from social interaction, for example, those living in isolation or with a condition such as dementia or recovering from a stroke, by reviving memories of players, matches, goals and incidents from football matches from days gone by.”